That's a wrap for our coverage of the IPL 2026 encounter between Sunrisers Hyderabad and Chennai Super Kings. A thrilling game that ebbed and flowed, but ultimately was decided by excellent knocks from Ishan Kishan and Heinrich Klaasen.

Join us tomorrow as Rajasthan Royals (RR) face Lucknow Super Giants (LSG). RR are still charging for the final playoffs spot. For now, goodnight!

Chennai Super Kings stay on 12 points. With 1 match remaining, the best they can get to is 14, which is unlikely to see them through, with other teams around them capable of achieving higher. But... never say never!

The victory seals Sunrisers Hyderabad and Gujarat Titans' spot in the playoffs. Both teams on 16 points, which the rest of the sides below them can no longer reach. 3 spots confirmed, it's all down to the fight for the final berth now!

Sunrisers Hyderabad WIN! Smaran Ravichandran hits the winning boundary, SRH win with 1 over to spare. The victory seals Sunrisers Hyderabad's spot in the playoffs!

SRH 181/5 (19)
SRH beat CSK by 5 wickets.

Drama towards the end! Salil Arora slams a massive 6 against Anshul Kamboj, but Ishan Kishan departs 2 balls later. With 6 runs needed, Kishan looks to end with a big hit, but gets caught at long-off.

SRH need 6 off 9!

SRH 175/5 (18.3)

Ishan Kishan, WOW! Nerveless under pressure. He slams a boundary down the ground, and then clobbers a massive 6 over deep mid-wicket. The left-hander moves up to 70; the equation for SRH is down to 13 off 12!

SRH 168/4 (18)

GONE! Big wicket! Nitish Reddy departs, looking to go over long-off. Caught in the deep. Mukesh Choudhary strikes with the first ball of his final over. The cameras pan to MS Dhoni in the dressing room, who appears to be all smiles.

SRH 153/4 (17.1)

Ishan Kishan slams a boundary on the final ball of Kamboj's third over. That brings the equation down to 28 off the final 3 overs. SRH definitely favourites, but you can't count out the home side.

SRH 153/3 (17)

Anshul Kamboj is back into the attack, Ishan Kishan flicks the first ball towards deep square-leg, but a sure-shot 6 is stopped by Noor Ahmad. The Afghan star flies into the air and pushes the ball back, saving 5 runs.

SRH 144/3 (16.1)

Half-century for Ishan Kishan! It is the first fifty of what is turning out to be an under-200 thriller. A patient knock, as he gets to the milestone in 37 balls. He holds the key for SRH to seal victory from here.

38 needed off 24!

SRH 143/3 (16)

Nitish Reddy is off the mark in a positive manner. 2 lovely drives through the off-side, the first one is stopped near the boundary, while the next one does go for 4!

5 overs to go, SRH need 44!

SRH 137/3 (15)

GONE! This is a huge, huge wicket for Chennai Super Kings, Heinrich Klaasen has to walk back. For once, Klaasen fails to pick Noor's delivery, his foot is in the air, Sanju Samson reacts with lightning-quick reflexes and dislodges the bails. That was MS Dhoni-esque!

Klaasen departs for 47. Is there hope for CSK?

SRH 131/3 (14.3)

Ruturaj Gaikwad turns to Shivam Dube but not even that works. Heinrich Klaasen slams him for 2 boundaries through the off-side, timing them with relative ease. Klaasen is up to 43 now. 

SRH 126/2 (14)

Ishan Kishan slams a firm square-cut for 4 more! A single off the final ball of the 13th over takes him up to 46. Klaasen's early hits have allowed Kishan to find his groove steadily.

SRH 114/2 (13)

Massive from Kishan! He has taken his time to settle in, and is now inching towards a half-century. CSK go back to Anshul Kamboj in an attempt to break the partnership, but Kishan slams him for 6 over long-on.

100 up for SRH too!

SRH 106/2 (12.2)

Heinrich Klaasen has been put down! The South African goes for a lofted sweep against Noor Ahmad, Spencer Johnson arrives in from deep square-leg but he fails to take the catch! The ball pops out of his hand at the last moment.

2 balls later, Klaasen makes CSK pay by hammering a 6 over long-off! And then he sweeps it for 4 more! How costly will that drop be for CSK?

SRH 89/2 (11)

Some excellent hitting from Heinrich Klaasen! He brings out a reverse-sweep against Akeal Hosein to slam 4, and then clears extra cover for a big 6! The South African veteran holds the key for SRH, who need 106 in the final 10 overs.

SRH 75/2 (10)

Much-needed boundary! Heinrich Klaasen gives himself room and slams it through extra cover for 4. However, overall it's another tidy over by Noor Ahmad. SRH's required run-rate is above 10!

SRH 64/2 (9)

GONE! Abhishek Sharma's stay comes to an end, and it's left-arm spinner Akeal Hosein who has done the trick in the first over. Abhishek goes for a slog sweep, but gets caught at deep fine-leg! He departs for 26 off 21.

SRH 56/2 (7.4)

A good start by Noor Ahmad, but Sunrisers Hyderabad are getting the odd boundary in every over. After 3 dots, Abhishek launches a slog sweep and just about gets it over the ropes for 6. Quite the uncharacteristic start from both Abhishek and Kishan -- their strike-rates are 131 and 123, respectively.

Abhishek's 6 also brings up 50 for SRH.

SRH 53/1 (7)

A mighty 6 from Ishan Kishan over deep square-leg. Anshul Kamboj started off well, but then Kishan hammered the maximum. Still, it's impressive stuff from CSK, and SRH's powerful left-handers haven't run away with it in the powerplay.

SRH 45/1 (6)

Abhishek Sharma into the act now. A lovely cover drive for 4 as Mukesh comes in for a third straight over. However, the left-arm pacer comes back strongly and keeps the over down to just 7.

SRH 38/1 (5)

Ishan Kishan starts off strong! Ishan Kishan slams 3 boundaries in the fourth over, bowled by Spencer Johnson. After the loss of Head early on, Kishan's string of fours will ease the nerves for SRH.

SRH 31/1 (4)

Big wicket for CSK and Mukesh Choudhary has done the trick! A complete miscue by Travis Head and the fast bowler completes a somewhat easy catch. Head was not looking in good touch and SRH have been dealt an early setback!

SRH 19/1 (3 overs)

Spencer Johnson came up with an interesting plan against Travis Head and it worked! Bowling round the wicket cramped the batter for room and except for a lucky boundary, the Australia opener did not have many opportunities to score runs.

SRH 15/0 (2 overs)

Two boundaries in the over for Abhishek Sharma. One through third-man and one through long-off. This has been a perfect start for the star India batter who was not bothered much by the bouncers.

SRH 10/0 (1 over)

Mukesh Choudhary to start proceedings for CSK while Travis Head and Abhishek Sharma will open the innings for SRH. Time for the run chase!

MS Dhoni has just been seen on the ground with some members of the CSK team, wearing his iconic No. 7 jersey. He is in the stadium today and with the team.

... And he is off the field now!

Pat Cummins is the hero of the day so far for Sunrisers Hyderabad. The SRH captain took 3 wickets, and important ones too -- Sanju Samson, Ruturaj Gaikwad and Kartik Sharma. Good support act from Sakib Hussain and Eshan Malinga too.

Chennai Super Kings finish on 180. A couple of boundaries in the end from Rs 14.20 crore star Prashant Veer, but he gets out on the final ball of the innings. End of a decent bowling performance from SRH, who will fancy chasing this down given their powerful batting lineup.

CSK 180/7 (20)
SRH Target: 181

With his 3 wickets today, Pat Cummins has gone past Hardik Pandya in the list for the most wickets in IPL by the captain of a side. He is up to second in that list, and is only behind Shane Warne now.

GONE! Shivam Dube has been cleaned up! Sakib Hussain gets his second wicket of the evening. Dube hit a few boundaries during his innings, but failed to tee off.

CSK 164/6 (18.3)

6 and gone! Dewald Brevis slams a cracking maximum over deep mid-wicket, but then goes for another swing but misses and gets bowled. A wicket for Eshan Malinga, after a good day in the office. Brevis narrowly misses out on a half-century.

CSK 159/5 (18)

The 150-run mark comes up for Chennai Super Kings. Shivam Dube gets a boundary away against Sakib, who continues to impress with his variations. 3 overs to go, 180 is the least they'll target.

CSK 151/4 (17)

Brevis continues the attack! A big 6 over wide long-on, and then 4 more flicked away fine. The South African is playing a really good knock so far, can he convert it to a big score? 

Pat Cummins' spell comes to an end. 3/28 in 4 overs, a really good day for the Australian.

CSK 144/4 (16)

Big shot! Shivam Dube slams a 6 over long-on against Eshan Malinga. The Sri Lankan pacer has been very economical today, but finally Dube manages to hit him for a maximum.

A good partnership so far between Brevis and Dube. Can they press sixth gear now?

CSK 132/4 (15)

Dewald Brevis accelerates! First Shivam Dube hits a lovely cover drive for 4, but then Brevis really goes after Nitish Reddy. A firm square-cut for 4, and then a pull shot for 6!

CSK 122/4 (14)

GONE! Ruturaj Gaikwad's struggle comes to an end. Pat Cummins strikes again, it's a third wicket for him! Gaikwad looks to free his arms, goes for a pull shot, but gets caught at deep mid-wicket by Eshan Malinga.

The 100-run mark is up for the Super Kings, but they'll need a big effort from Brevis and Dube now.

CSK 100/4 (11.3)

Short from Sakib and helped over fine-leg by Dewald Brevis for 6. A very good shot by the young South African. Sakib, however, comes back strong and restricts Brevis for the rest of the over with his slower deliveries.

CSK 99/3 (11)

10 overs done. Samson and Kartik both got excellent starts, but failed to make a big score. Time for the likes of Dewald Brevis and Shivam Dube to potentially step up, while Ruturaj Gaikwad will be hoping to accelerate soon. The CSK captain is yet to hit a boundary!

CSK 91/3 (10)

GONE! Kartik Sharma's knock comes to an end! Cummins does the trick with a slower and shorter ball, Kartik looks to hammer it over cover, but gets caught in the deep. A fiery knock of 32 (19) comes to an end.

CSK 90/3 (9.4)

Handsome shot by Kartik Sharma! The 20-year-old, who was bought for Rs 14.20 crore, continues to impress. Shivang Kumar comes in for his second over, but Kartik slams the first ball over long-off for 6!

CSK 89/2 (9)

Kartik Sharma takes on Praful Hinge! A boundary over cover, then a flat 6 over deep square-leg, and then a thick edge goes for 4 more. Big over CSK, just what they needed after a few dry overs.

CSK 79/2 (8)

6 singles off 6 balls in Shivang Kumar's first over. Ruturaj Gaikwad and Kartik Sharma taking things cautiously at the moment. Gaikwad is yet to hit a boundary.

CSK 63/2 (7)

Eshan Malinga bowls another economical over to end the powerplay. Ruturaj Gaikwad has made a really tentative start, he is on 10 off 12. Kartik Sharma has got a boundary at the other end.

CSK 57/2 (6)

Kartik Sharma is off the mark with 4! Thick outside edge but it goes away for a boundary through third-man. That brings up the 50-run mark for CSK at the end of the fifth over.

CSK 52/2 (5)

GONE! Urvil Patel has been dismissed! A tricky slower ball from Sakib Hussain nips back in, Urvil swings and misses, and the ball knocks over the stumps. 

CSK 48/2 (4.3)

A really solid over by Eshan Malinga. Introduced in the powerplay, but just 3 runs off it. That has put the brakes on a bit, after a blitzkrieg at the start by Samson and Urvil. Ruturaj is yet to get going.

CSK 46/1 (4)

Crunched! Sweet sound off the blade as Urvil slams Cummins for a massive 6 over deep mid-wicket. And the next ball has gone for 6 too! Flicked over deep square-leg, he has made that look utterly effortless.

CSK 43/1 (3)

GONE! Pat Cummins ends Sanju Samson's blinder! Lovely line and length from Pat Cummins, Samson goes for the drive but fails to connect well, it's caught behind by Ishan Kishan. Samson takes a DRS review, but UltraEdge confirms the nick.

CSK 31/1 (2.3)

Sanju Samson is dealing in boundaries! This is sublime hitting from the CSK opener. He survives a close call for caught behind early in the over, as Pat Cummins takes a DRS review. Next 3 balls, Samson slams 3 fours in a row! First one towards backward point, then down the ground, and then the backward point region again!

CSK 30/0 (2)

Fiery start by Sanju Samson! Nitish Kumar Reddy bowls a no-ball with his first delivery, and the free-hit is smashed for 6 over long-on by Samson. The next ball is flicked away for 4 through deep square-leg!

And the final ball is also slammed for 4! Expensive first over!

CSK 17/0 (1)

We are LIVE! Sanju Samson and Ruturaj Gaikwad are out to open for Chennai Super Kings. Interesting decision by Pat Cummins, who will let Nitish Kumar Reddy open the bowling for Sunrisers Hyderabad.

It will be imperative for Sanju Samson and Ruturaj Gaikwad to get CSK off to a good start today. Urvil Patel and Kartik Sharma have had good performances, but cometh the big games, CSK will expect their biggest stars to step up.

Sunrisers Hyderabad XI vs CSK: Abhishek Sharma, Ishan Kishan (wk), Heinrich Klaasen, Salil Arora, Smaran Ravichandran, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Pat Cummins (c), Shivang Kumar, Eshan Malinga, Sakib Hussain, Praful Hinge.

Travis Head is likely to be the Impact Player for SRH.

Chennai Super Kings XI vs SRH: Sanju Samson (wk), Ruturaj Gaikwad (c), Urvil Patel, Kartik Sharma, Dewald Brevis, Shivam Dube, Prashant Veer, Akeal Hosein, Noor Ahmad, Anshul Kamboj, Spencer Johnson.

Akeal Hosein is back into CSK's playing XI! No MS Dhoni.

Ravi Shastri, at the toss, asks Ruturaj Gaikwad whether MS Dhoni is playing. Gaikwad reveals that Dhoni isn't playing, but says that he is with the team today. "The good news is he is with the team, but he is not fit enough to play," says Gaikwad.

Chennai Super Kings have won the toss and opted to bat! Ruturaj Gaikwad says CSK must respect the conditions, and therefore, they have elected to bat first. Interesting choice.

Chennai Super Kings have posted a video on social media showing that MS Dhoni is joining the rest of the players on the team bus. Looks like he will definitely be present at the Chepauk today, even if he does not play.

Anbuden Thala entry! #WhistlePodu #CSKvSRH pic.twitter.com/VzDMorVk22

— Chennai Super Kings (@ChennaiIPL) May 18, 2026

We are just about 10 minutes away from toss time at the Chepauk Stadium. Ruturaj Gaikwad and Pat Cummins are set to lead CSK and SRH respectively. A massive crowd is expected today, with this being CSK's last home game and the match being a huge clash in the playoffs race.

In their previous meeting, CSK had used part-time off-spinner Matt Short against SRH's left-handed openers Abhishek Sharma and Travis Head. That moved backfired, as Short conceded 38 runs in 3 overs with no wickets. It'll be interesting to see whether CSK opt for a similar move today, or go ahead with their pacers. The five-time champions don't have a frontline offie in their squad.

With the season-ending injury to Jamie Overton, CSK have been left with a big headache over their playing XI. Last match, they dropped in-form spinner Akeal Hosein, but that move backfired. It'll be interesting to see what combination CSK go with today.

If Akeal returns, CSK might have to leave out Spencer Johnson and bring in an extra Indian bowler.

Sunrisers Hyderabad have arguably the most destructive batting lineup in the tournament, but shockingly collapsed to 86 all out in their previous match against Gujarat Titans. SRH will hope the likes of Abhishek Sharma, Travis Head, Ishan Kishan and Heinrich Klaasen find their groove again for this all-important match.

For CSK to win today, Sanju Samson will likely have to play a big role. Samson's had a superb season, slamming 2 centuries, but has only 1 30+ score in his last 5 matches. CSK will hope Samson is back to his very best tonight.

IPL 2026 has witnessed one of the closest playoffs races in recent memory. As it stands, 3 playoffs spots are still up for grabs, with 7 teams fighting for them. Punjab Kings, who won 6 of their first 7 matches, and Kolkata Knight Riders, who lost 5 of their first 6, can both end up on the same points now!

According to a report by The Indian Express, Dhoni has suffered a fresh thumb injury just hours ahead of the IPL 2026 match between CSK and SRH. That could see him ruled out of the match today. However, he is reportedly going to be at the Chepauk Stadium to attend the game. 

MS Dhoni, at the age of 44, has not played a single match in the ongoing IPL season. The passionate Chennai crowd have kept waiting for their legendary skipper to play a game, but it is yet to happen. Today - ahead of CSK's last home game of IPL 2026 - a Dhoni quote from 5 years ago has resurfaced.

"I have always planned my cricket. The last game I played was in Ranchi. The last home game in ODI was at my hometown in Ranchi. So, hopefully, my last T20 will be in Chennai. Whether it's next year or in five years' time, we don't really know," Dhoni had said, 5 years ago.

With SRH on 14 points and CSK on 12 points, today's match plays a huge role in the playoff hopes of both teams. A victory seals SRH's spot in the Top 4, while CSK need to win to keep their realistic chances alive.

A loss for either side massively complicates their chances, particularly CSK.

Hello and welcome to the live coverage of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 clash between Chennai Super Kings (CSK) and Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH). We are into the final week of the league stage, and the playoff race is heating up!

Stay tuned to NDTV Sports for all the live updates from the match.